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Hurry, you don’t have much time! The fall season officially starts on September 22nd, and you have nothing planned! Lucky for you, I have the perfect guide to the ultimate autumn experience, including activities local to Nebraska, a movie night watchlist, delicious recipes, and all things pumpkin.
Activities In Nebraska:
- There’s truly nothing like a Nebraska sunset during the fall. At Ponca State Park in Dixon County, you can see an array of oranges and pinks alongside beautiful wildlife. The park offers about 22.5 miles of open trails for you to hike, bike, or casually walk! More information can be found of their website here.
- Everyone knows it, everyone loves it, it’s Vala’s Pumpkin Patch! Vala’s consists of a variety of activities for all ages like a classic corn maze, haunted house, and pumpkin picking. They have also recently added new attractions, such as a thrilling apple swing ride, a speedy slide
Vala’s Pumpkin Patch! mountain, a wonderful stop if you’re hungry called The Poutine Porch, a firefly drone show, and numerous other fun pastimes you can find on this website!
- Nelson Produce Farm, a hidden gem found in Valley, NE is hosting plenty of fall relating activities this autumn! Their annual Fall Festival is currently open and runs all the way through October 31st! This festival consists of seasonal sweet treats, a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, corn maze and more! They also have “Flannel Fridays” on the 12th and 26th of September and the 3rd, 10th, and 24th of October. At this event, they will host live music, line dancing, fire pits, and autumn themed mocktails. But don’t think that’s all, Nelson Produce farm also has “Cinema Saturdays”, where they play movies outdoors! Keep track of these many exciting activities here!
- If you are one for a good jump scare, Scary Acres in Sarpy County is the perfect place for you! Scary Acres holds three haunted houses, “Masters Castle”, “House on the Hill”, and “Haunted Woods”. All three attractions are highly interactive with trained scare actors and realistic sets and props. Lines outside of the houses may get long, but don’t worry because they have many people ready to jump scare you while you wait! Scary Acres is a terrifying yet fun activity for those who love haunted houses!
Movie Watch List:
Although Nebraska offers plenty lively activities, sometimes the best thing you can do is curl up in a cozy blanket with some warm apple cider and a good fall movie! Here are some of the best autumn movies!
- Tim Burton, Tim Burton, Tim Burton! A name everyone loves when it comes to finding a classic
Tim Burton: American filmmaker and artist autumn movie! Four great recommendations for your watchlist from him are:
- Beetlejuice, made in 1988, pertains to the ghosts Barbara and Adam Maitland haunting the new owners (the Deetzes) of the house they owned before they died. In their efforts to scare the Deetzes away, Barbara and Adam bring back the spirit Beetlejuice by saying his name three times. This ultimately brings danger to the new family!
- Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, made in 2024, is the sequel to Beetlejuice where the daughter of much older Lydia Deetzes starts making discoveries about the afterlife and the Deetzes family gets wrapped into Beetlejuice’s chaotic schemes.
- Corpse Bride is another beautifully made movie but this time in the form of stop motion and digital technology. This movie captures the storyline of Victors and the night before his wedding where he unintentionally marries Emily the corpse bride and falls into the underworld with her.
- Although some may argue this is a Christmas movie, truly its one of the best family friendly movies for halloween. The Nightmare Before Christmas follows Halloween Town’s king, Jack Skellington and his adventure of stealing Santa Clause with the intent of giving kids haunted gifts on Christmas morning.
- Horror movies aren’t everyones cup on tea, but if you enjoy them, some thrillers many enjoy are:
- The Conjuring, made in 2013 and set in 1970 is about investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren who were assigned to inspect a farmhouse with a terrifying history. The new owners experience paranormal activities which get them wrapped in dangerous situations.
- It is a popular thriller made in 2017 where a group of friends get confronted with a monstrous clown names Pennywise who emerges from the sewers. As this group of children try to destroy Pennywise, he shape shifts into their worst fears to counteract the groups scheme.
- Halloween is the first of many great Michael Myers movies, in this particular film, Micheal starts his psychotic life when he is six years old and kills his sister on Halloween night. Michael Myers is sent to an institution where he is meant to get help, but fifteen years later he escapes and goes back to his hometown. How did he get out? Who will be his next victim? How long will it be before he gets caught again? I guess you’ll have to watch to find out!
Seasonal Recipes:
Now, you can’t fully experience a fall movie night without fall related food. Here is a collection of various mouthwatering recipes for you! 
- The best autumn recipes always include pumpkin in one shape or form!
- Hosting a party and need cute Halloween themed treats? I got you!
- You need something to wash all those seasonal snacks down!
With following this wonderful autumn guide, I am sure this fall will be marked in the books as one of your bests! Happy spooky season!!
